• Question: Are there any mosquitoes that contain poison?

    Asked by ever520cham to Victoria C, Marc, Estela GF, Claire on 21 May 2025.
    • Photo: Estela Gonzalez Fernandez

      Estela Gonzalez Fernandez answered on 21 May 2025:

      Hi! That’s an interesting question. As far as I’m aware mosquitoes don’t contain poison. However, when mosquitoes bite an animal to take blood, they inject saliva at the same time. This saliva can cause really bad reactions sometimes, and there are people allergic to it.

    • Photo: Claire Donald

      Claire Donald answered on 30 Jun 2025:

      Hi Great question! Mosquitoes are know as the most deadly animal on the planet but thats not because of poison or venom they carry. Female mosquitoes bite to get the protein in our blood to make their eggs. When they feed, they inject saliva to help the blood flow better. However, the saliva may contain harmful germs (viruses, parasites or bacteria) which can make us really unwell. The most infamous of these germs in malaria. Because so many people have become sick due to these mosquito transmitted diseases, mosquitoes kill more people every year (indirectly) than great white sharks or snakes.

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